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Thamann leads Elder past Mason

Elder RB Joey Thamann (4) and QB Kaden Estep (10) (photo By: Sandy Mahoney / X: @InMotionBySandy)

CINCINNATI, Oh. —  There’s no better way to get the taste of an uncharacteristic .500 season of the mouths of the Elder Panthers than a resounding win to open the 2024 playoffs.

And that’s exactly what happened Friday night at the Pit in Price Hill, as the host Panthers – who finished the regular season 5-5 and winless in the Greater Catholic League – mauled the visiting Mason Comets by a final of 28-3.

Both teams came into the game 5-5 and ranked in the Blitz 5 Top 25, with Elder #14 and Mason #18, and both looking to jumpstart struggling seasons with a victory in the Ohio Division I, Region 4 opening round playoff game.

The Pit was rocking, as always, and the Panthers opened the scoring with 1:38 left in the first quarter, as RB Joey Thamann took it it from one yard out to put Elder on top 7-0. The Panthers would extend that lead midway through the second quarter, with Elder QB Kaden Estep hitting wideout Christopher Paff on  a 27-yard strike to push the lead to 14-0.

The Comets dent the scoreboard late in the first half, with kicker Max Gogul nailing a 26-yard field goal, sending the game into the half with Elder ahead 14-3.

Thamann would take over for the Panthers, as would their defense, in the second half,  with the Panther running back ripping off touchdown runs of 56 and seven yards in the third quarter. Meanwhile, the Elder defense would force two Comets fumbles – recovering one – along with an interception by DB Corey Selle, to put the clamps on the Mason offense, which amassed a paltry 177 yards of total offense.

Thamann would finish with 181 yards on 20 carries, and three touchdowns, to lead the Elder attack, with support from Estep, would would go 12 of 18  for 165 yards and one touchdown pass. On the defensive side, DT Pete Fortkamp racked up 14 tackles and one sack to lead the Elder D.

Elder moves on to face Blitz 5 #2 Lakota West, the Greater Miami Conference co-champions, in the second round of the Ohio Division I, Region 4 playoffs at Lakota West next Friday. The Firebirds whitewashed Walnut Hills 49-0 in their playoff opener.

BOX SCORE
Elder   7-7-14-0  28
Mason  0-3-0-0  3

SCORING PLAYS
E: Joey Thamann 1-yard run (Adam Re kick)
E: Christopher Paff 27-yard pass from Kaden Estep (Re kick)
M: Max Gogul 26-yard field goal
E: Thamann 56-yard run (Re kick)
E: Thamann 7-yard run (Re kick)

RECORDS: Elder 6-5; Mason 5-6
UP NEXT: Elder at Lakota West (10-1), Ohio Division I, Region 4 second round; Mason, season complete.

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